Picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame having an elongated abutment surface on at least one inner edge of the rear portion of the frame, and a backing member having an elongated elastic closure member along one edge opposing and yieldably and releasably engaging the abutment surface, for holding a picture in the frame.

United States Patent MacCluney [54] PICTURE FRAME [72] Inventor: William Robert MacCiuney, Route one Queen Ann Farm, Ashland City, Tenn. 37015 [22] Filed: June 22,1970

211 App]. No.: 48,080

[52] U.S. Cl ..40/ 152 [51] ..G09i 1/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..40/10,152,156,152.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,999 1 1/ 1928 Siegel ..40/156 51 May 30,1972

2,614,354 10/1952 Winslow ..40/156 2,747,311 5/1956 Fulmer..... ....40/l56 2,814,359 11/1957 Ferdinand ..40/l6.2

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenceslao .I Contreras Attorney-Harrington A. Lackey [5 7] ABSTRACT A picture frame having an elongated abutment surface on at least one inner edge of the rear portion of the frame, and a backing member having an elongated elastic closure member along one edge opposing and yieldably and releasably engaging the abutment surface, for holding a picture in the frame.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY30 1972 3, 665 627 SHEET 1 or 3 G i IILIVENTOR 66 FIGS 68 w. ROBERT MACCLUNEY ATTORNEY PATENTED m 30 I972 sum ear 3 FlG.7

INVENTOR W B MACCLUNEY A'ITORNEY PATENTEDMAY30 I972 3,665 627 SHEET 3 or 3 INVENTOR PICTURE FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a picture frame, and more particularly to a backing member for a picture frame.

Heretofore, pictures have been held in picture frames by a backing sheet, which in turn is held in the frame by nails driven into the inner edges of the rear portion of the frame. Pictures are also held in frames by gluing or pasting some type of sheet material, such as paper or cardboard over the back thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a picture frame having a backing member which may be quickly and easily inserted into and withdrawn from the rear portion of the frame for holding a picture or other object to be displayed within the frame, without any additional devices, accessories or operations, such as nailing or gluing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a backing member which may yieldably be fitted within the rear portion of the frame for automatically and releasably holding a picture in the frame.

The picture frame made in accordance with this invention includes a backing member having along at least one outer edge thereof an elongated, elastic closure member and an opposing abutment surface on the inner edge of the rear portion of the frame. The dimensions of the backing member, closure member and abutment surface are such that as the backing member is forced into the rear portion of the frame, the closure member is compressed until it is properly seated against the abutment member. In this closed, or picture supporting, position, the closure member yieldably engages the abutment surface for releasably holding the picture in place. If for any reason it is desired to remove or replace the pictures or other display object, within the frame, the backing member may be easily removed by pulling the backing member away from the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of the picture frame made in accordance with this invention, shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the backing member in a solid-line, open position and in a phantom intermediate position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of hinged backing member;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear plan view of another modified form of hinged backing member assembled within the frame;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the elements of the backing member disassembled;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary edge elevation disclosing the backing member of FIGS. 7 and 8, and illustrating its function;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of another form of backing member assembled in a picture frame made in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 4, the picture frame is of a rectangular shape having a front frame portion 21 and a rear frame portion 22. The front frame portion 21 includes a marginal opening 23 through which the picture is viewed. Behind the marginal opening 23 is a recess 24 for receiving the transparent sheet material 25, such as glass or a transparent plastic material. Behind the transparent sheet material 25 is the picture 26, or other display material to be displayed to the viewer.

The backing member 28 disclosed in FIGS. 1 4 comprises a backing sheet 29, preferably of rigid material, such as paperboard, hard plastic or wood.

The backing member 28 may be hingedly connected along one edge to a corresponding edge of the rear frame portion 22 by a hinge member 30. The hinge member 30 includes a first elongated hinge element 31 fixed to the hinge edge 32 of the backing sheet 29. The hinge element 31 is provided with a series of axially or longitudinally spaced elastic coiled fingers 33. The hinge member 30 also includes a hinge element 34 fixed to the corresponding edge of the rear frame portion 22, and provided with a plurality of axially or longitudinally spaced elastic coiled fingers 35 adapted to interdigitate with the coiled fingers 33 of the hinge element 31. Coupling the hinge elements 31 and 34 into hinged relationship is an elongated pintle 36, preferably of flexible material, such as hard rubber, and also preferably of smaller diameter than the inner diameters of the coiled fingers 33 and 35. The purpose of the smaller diameter of the pintle 36 is to permit the interdigitating elastic fingers 33 and 35 to be compressed so that the hinged edge 32 of the backing sheet 29 may be moved toward and away from the corresponding edge of the rear frame portion 22, for a purpose to be described later.

The opposite, or closure, edge 38 of the backing sheet 29 is fixed to an elongated closure member 40. The closure member 40 may be identical in form and material to either of the hinge elements 31 or 34. That is, the closure member 40 is provided with a plurality of axially, or longitudinally, spaced coiled elastic fingers 41. The closure member 40 is adapted to fit, in closed position, within an elongated, arcuate, concave inward, abutment surface 42 formed in the corresponding inner edge of the rear frame portion 22 opposing the closure edge 38 of the backing sheet 29.

Also formed in the inner edge of the rear frame portion 22 behind the abutment surface 42, or above the abutment surface 42, as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 4, is a strike or cam surface 43 sloping outward and rearward. Thus, as disclosed in FIG. 4, as the backing sheet 29 is moved from its open solidline position toward its closed position, the elastic closure member 40 will first engage, and gradually be compressed by, the strike surface 43 to compress the closure member 40 as disclosed in the phantom position of FIG. 4. Then, as the sheet member 39 arrives at its fully closed position, the coiled fingers 41 of the closure member 40 are restored to their expanded positions firmly seated against the arcuate abutment surface 42, as best disclosed in FIG. 3.

The backing sheet 29 may be provided with a plurality of small resilient frusto-conical cushions 45, seated in corresponding openings in the front surface of the backing sheet 29. The protruding smaller end portions of the cushions 45 will seat against the back of the picture 26 to hold the picture 26 and the transparent sheet material 25 firmly seated against the ledge or recess in the front frame portion 21.

It is evident from the description of the backing member 28 of FIGS. 1 4, that an abutment surface 42 must be formed in the inner face of the rear frame portion 22 for the closure member 40 to function effectively. The inner faces of the rear frame portions of most picture frames are flat or planar. If the picture frame is wood, then the abutment surface 42 must be formed by routing, or if the picture frame is a plastic material, then the abutment surface 42 must be formed in the original mold.

FIG. 5 discloses a modification of this invention in which the picture frame includes a front frame portion 51, a rear frame portion 52, a picture opening 53 and a recess 54 for receiving a transparent sheet 25 and a picture 26. The picture 26 is held against the transparent sheet 25 by a backing member 28, in the same manner as disclosed in FIGS. 1 4.

However, the rear frame portion 52 is of conventional construction and includes a flat or planar inner face or wall 55 As a substitute for the arcuate abutment surface 42, an elongated abutment member 57 is preformed of resilient material, such as plastic or spring metal, to have an arcuate abutment surface 58 and an attachment portion 59, as disclosed in FIG. 5. The

attachment portion 59 is secured to the rear face 60 of the rear frame portion 52 by means of fastening members, such as screw 61. The abutment member 57 also includes an inwardly protruding strike or cam portion 62, to function in a manner similar to the strike surface 43 of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Thus, as the backing member 28 moves from an open position toward a closed position, coil fingers 41 of the closure member 40 are compressed by the strike surface 62. However, as the coil fingers 41 pass the strike surface 62, they expand into engagement with the arcuate abutment surface 58 to effect a firm closure.

FIG. 6 discloses a hinge element 65 which is slightly modified from the hinge element 31 of FIG. 1. The hinge element 65 includes a plurality of axially spaced coil fingers 66 adapted to interdigitate with the coil fingers 35 of the hinge element 34 in FIG. 1. However, the hinge element 65 also includes a pair of leaves 67 and 68, preferably integrally formed with the coil fingers 66. Leaves 67 and 68 are adapted to receive between them different conventional backing sheets 69, whose widths may vary within the limits of the lateral dimensions of the leaves 67 and 68. For example, in FIG. 6, the edge of the backing member 69 may terminate at the solid line position 70 or the dashed-line position 70, and still be confined between the leaves 67 and 68. After the hinge element 65 interdigitates with the hinge element 34, they may be hingedly secured together by the pintle 36, and the backing sheet 69 adjusted between the leaves 67 and 68 to fit the frame 20. The backing sheet 69 may also be initially adjusted and secured between the leaves 67 and 68 by glue or other securing means, and then hingedly assembled within the frame 20.

A closure member 40 may be formed in the same manner as the hinge element 65 to receive the opposite edge of the backing member 69, in order to adjustably accommodate the backing member 69 to picture frame 20.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 disclose a modified form of the invention for insertion of a plurality of stacked pictures or other display sheets 72 within the picture frame 20.

The hinged edges 73 of the stacked display sheets 72 are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced coiled elastic fingers or finger rings 74 extending through punched openings 75 adjacent the hinged edge 73. FIG. 9 illustrates how the individual display sheets 76 are turned about the coiled finger rings 74 until the desired display sheet 76 appears on the bottom of the stack 72. The coiled finger rings 74 are then inserted between the coiled fingers 78 of the hinge element 79 fixed to the inner edge of the rear frame portion 22 of the frame A backing sheet 80 may or may not be hingedly secured to the hinge element 79, as disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8. The finger rings 74 and the coiled hinge fingers 78, are secured in hinged interdigitating relationship by the pintle 82.

If a backing sheet 80 is employed, then a closure member 40 will be affixed to the opposite edge for securing backing sheet 80 within the picture frame 20 in a manner similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 1 4 or FIG. 5. If no backing sheet 80 is employed, then the opposite edges ofthc stack sheets 72 could be inserted to a closure member having the form of the hinge element 65 ofFlG. 6.

When it is desired to change the display sheet 76 exposed through the front opening 23 of the picture frame 20, then the reverse procedure is performed. In other words, the backing sheet 80 is turned to an open position, as disclosed in FIG. 8, the pintle 82 is removed, and the stacked display sheets 72 separated from the hinge element 79. The display sheets 72 are then turned in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9 until the desired display sheet is exposed on the bottom of the stack 72. The stack is then reinserted in the frame and the backing sheet 80 is closed, as previously described. FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose a backing member 85 which is completely separate from the backing sheet 86 in a picture frame 88.

The backing member 85 is basically an open marginal frame, which can be formed of a single strip of elongated, plastic, semi-rigid tubing 89 formed into a substantially rectangular loop, as disclosed in FIG. 10. Flexible coiled fingers 90 have their inner ends 91 fixed to the elongated rod-like member 89 with the remaining portion of the coiled fingers 90 free to contract and expand according to the elastic properties of the fingers 90.

The picture frame 88 has a front frame portion 92 which includes a picture opening 93 and a recess 94 to receive the transparent sheet 95 and the picture 96, in a manner similar to the front frame portion 21 of FIGS. 1-4. The inner face of the rear frame portion 98 forms an elongated arcuate abutment surface 99 in a manner similar to the abutment surface 42 disclosed in FIGS. 1 4. However, the abutment surface 99 is formed in the entire marginal circumference of the inner face of the rear frame portion 98, since coil fingers 90 are provided on each side of the backing member 85.

The advantage of the marginal open-frame backing member disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 11 is that conventional backing sheets 86 may be employed. To assemble a picture in the frame 88, the transparent sheet 95 is first placed in the recess 94, the picture 96 is placed on top of the transparent sheet 95, the conventional backing sheet 86 is then placed over the back of the picture 96, and then the backing member 85 is forced down upon the backing sheet 86, by compressing the coil fingers against the inwardly projecting strike surfaces 100. After the coil fingers 90 have been compressed and forced past the strike edges or surfaces 100, they expand against the arcuate abutment surfaces 99 in the same manner as the closure member 40 seats against the abutment surface 42 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

By forming the semi-rigid tubing 89 of a sufficiently elastic material, the flexible coiled fingers 90 may be eliminated. Then, the elastic backing member 85 may be manually deformed for insertion into and removal from the rear frame portion 98. Thus, the backing member 85 has a snap-action without the coil fingers 90.

A pull cord 102 may be secured to the backing member 85 in order to assist in removing the backing member 85 from the rear of the frame 88.

It will thus be seen that an improved backing member has been provided for readily securing, removing, interchanging and replacing display sheets, such as pictures, within a picture frame, effecting an economy in time and effort. Furthermore, the picture frames made in accordance with this invention eliminate the archaic method of permanently securing pictures in picture frames by means such as nailing and gluing, which provide formidable obstacles to replacing pictures or other display sheets in picture frames. The picture frames made in accordance with this invention provide ready interchangeability of pictures, protection and storage of films and fabrics, as well as providing backing members which firmly seat the picture within the frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A picture frame comprising:

a. a front frame portion having a picture opening and a marginal recess for receiving a picture sheet introduced from the rear of the frame,

b. an open rear frame portion having marginal inner edges forming a picture receiving opening larger than said picture opening and said picture sheet,

c. an elongated abutment surface formed along each of said inner edges,

d. an open marginal backing member comprising an elongated, continuous strip of elastic material defining a loop,

e. the inner perimeter of said loop being less than the perimeter of said picture sheet, and the outer perimeter of said loop being normally greater than the perimeter of said inner edges, when decompressed,

. said backing member, under compression, longitudinally engaging, and conforming to the perimetric shape of, all of said abutment surfaces to retain said picture sheet in said front frame portion, between said marginal recess and said marginal backing member.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said inner edges are rigid and each of said abutment surface form separate abutment members, and means securing said abutment members in said rear frame portion spaced inward of said inner edges. 

1. A picture frame comprising: a. A front frame portion having a picture opening and a marginal recess for receiving a picture sheet introduced from the rear of the frame, b. an open rear frame portion having marginal inner edges forming a picture receiving opening larger than said picture opening and said picture sheet, c. an elongated abutment surface formed along each of said inner edges, d. an open marginal backing member comprising an elongated, continuous strip of elastic material defining a loop, e. the inner perimeter of said loop being less than the perimeter of said picture sheet, and the outer perimeter of said loop being normally greater than the perimeter of said inner edges, when decompressed, f. said backing member, under compression, longitudinally engaging, and conforming to the perimetric shape of, all of said abutment surfaces to retain said picture sheet in said front frame portion, between said marginal recess and said marginal backing member.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which each of said abutment surfaces has an arcuate cross-section, concave inward, to form an elongated seat for said backing member.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 further comprising a strike surface behind and slightly inside said abutment surface to cam said backing member into compression as said backing member moves into position within said rear frame portion.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said inner edges are rigid and each of said abutment surface form separate abutment members, and means securing said abutment members in said rear frame portion spaced inward of said inner edges. 